Comments on: Playing Over Annotated Master Games http://beginchess.com/2007/04/15/playing-over-annotated-master-games/ Chess for Beginners Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Blue Devil Knight http://beginchess.com/2007/04/15/playing-over-annotated-master-games/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Blue Devil Knight Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:34:55 +0000 http://www.beginchess.com/2007/04/15/playing-over-annotated-master-games/#comment-44 This is a good technique. I use one that is a little bit different. I just read through the moves and annotation until I get to a complicated position (usually I have scoped out the text of the book beforehand to make sure I do this on a position in which the author gives a LOT of annotation). Then I do a deep think on the position, 10 to 20 minutes, and then compare my thoughts to those of the annotator (and Fritz's evaluation). I then read through the rest of the game with annotations. I find this technique helpful, as it has helped me get better at visualizing into the future and gives me lots of feedback (I pick the high-annotation moves) right when I am done. Either way, active reading versus mere passive looking at the game and annotations is the key to getting more out of annotated game collections. I am not sure this is the <i>best</i> way to improve. I think an even better way (if you had to choose one, and you don't) is to play as many slow games as possible, and go over them with a coach. This is a good technique. I use one that is a little bit different. I just read through the moves and annotation until I get to a complicated position (usually I have scoped out the text of the book beforehand to make sure I do this on a position in which the author gives a LOT of annotation).

Then I do a deep think on the position, 10 to 20 minutes, and then compare my thoughts to those of the annotator (and Fritz’s evaluation).

I then read through the rest of the game with annotations.

I find this technique helpful, as it has helped me get better at visualizing into the future and gives me lots of feedback (I pick the high-annotation moves) right when I am done.

Either way, active reading versus mere passive looking at the game and annotations is the key to getting more out of annotated game collections.

I am not sure this is the best way to improve. I think an even better way (if you had to choose one, and you don’t) is to play as many slow games as possible, and go over them with a coach.

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